Wednesday, August 19
Chapel Hill, N.C.
7:00 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
at
No. 2 North Carolina (Exh.)
Photo by: DavidsonPhotos.com
‘Cats Edged in Preseason Opener at No. 5 UNC, 5-4
8/20/2015 10:27:00 AM | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite a pair of goals from senior Valeriy Sviderskiy, a big second-half contribution from freshman Jordan Hill and four unanswered to tie the score, Davidson fell 5-4 to No. 5 North Carolina in an exhibition contest Wednesday evening at Fetzer Field.
"We got off to a tough start – and will learn volumes from that - but the team rebounded with a furious comeback that underlines their resilience and spirit," said Davidson head coach Matt Spear. "Our goals were top quality."
After a 73-minute weather delay, Sviderskiy put the Wildcats on the board in the 49th minute. Shortly after, the senior struck again off a cross from Jess Smith as it took Davidson just 22 minutes to even the score.
"With the extended halftime weather delay, we talked about winning the second period as its own separate contest. But when we started scoring goal after goal after goal, we put ourselves in amazing position to tie or win on the road against a highly ranked team."
Freshman Jordan Hill put away a Cort Coxhead corner kick to cut the deficit to one, 4-3, and Matt Reinikka provided an equalizer for Davidson in the 71st minute.
"We were able to get 21 guys on the pitch, and it was especially important that six freshmen played," commented Spear.
However, the Heels responded with the eventual game-winner three minutes later when a cross was turned in by a retreating Davidson player. The goal was credited to UNC's Andy Lopez.
Playing its second exhibition of 2015, North Carolina also got a pair of goals from Raby George and one from David October 14 minutes in.
The Wildcats will wrap up their preseason slate Tuesday when Long Island visitsAlumni Stadium / 1992 Team Field at 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary
No. 5 North Carolina 5, Davidson 4
UNC - David October (Wright) 14'
UNC – Raby George (Melo) 17'
UNC – Raby George (Penalty Kick) 19'
UNC – Zach Wright (unassisted) 37'
DAV – Valeriy Sviderskiy (unassisted) 49'
DAV – Valeriy Sviderskiy (Smith) 62'
DAV – Jordan Hill (Coxhead) 67'
DAV – Matt Reinikka (Hill) 71'
UNC – Andy Lopez (Unassisted) 74'
"We got off to a tough start – and will learn volumes from that - but the team rebounded with a furious comeback that underlines their resilience and spirit," said Davidson head coach Matt Spear. "Our goals were top quality."
After a 73-minute weather delay, Sviderskiy put the Wildcats on the board in the 49th minute. Shortly after, the senior struck again off a cross from Jess Smith as it took Davidson just 22 minutes to even the score.
"With the extended halftime weather delay, we talked about winning the second period as its own separate contest. But when we started scoring goal after goal after goal, we put ourselves in amazing position to tie or win on the road against a highly ranked team."
Freshman Jordan Hill put away a Cort Coxhead corner kick to cut the deficit to one, 4-3, and Matt Reinikka provided an equalizer for Davidson in the 71st minute.
"We were able to get 21 guys on the pitch, and it was especially important that six freshmen played," commented Spear.
However, the Heels responded with the eventual game-winner three minutes later when a cross was turned in by a retreating Davidson player. The goal was credited to UNC's Andy Lopez.
Playing its second exhibition of 2015, North Carolina also got a pair of goals from Raby George and one from David October 14 minutes in.
The Wildcats will wrap up their preseason slate Tuesday when Long Island visitsAlumni Stadium / 1992 Team Field at 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary
No. 5 North Carolina 5, Davidson 4
UNC - David October (Wright) 14'
UNC – Raby George (Melo) 17'
UNC – Raby George (Penalty Kick) 19'
UNC – Zach Wright (unassisted) 37'
DAV – Valeriy Sviderskiy (unassisted) 49'
DAV – Valeriy Sviderskiy (Smith) 62'
DAV – Jordan Hill (Coxhead) 67'
DAV – Matt Reinikka (Hill) 71'
UNC – Andy Lopez (Unassisted) 74'
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
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